Automatic feed device



W. K. EDGAR. AUTOMATIC FEED DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.29, 1919.

Patented June 22, 1920.

2 SHEETS$HEET 1- am-uentoz anemia w. K. EDGAR.

AUTOMATIC FEED DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-29. 1919.

133 4 492 Patented June 22 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- uuenfoz WM zoo 9 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM KERR EDGAR, 0F LAWRENCE, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE EDGAR STEEL SEAL AND MFG. 00., OF LAVTRENCE, KANSAS.

AUTOMATIC FEED DEVICE.

Patented June 22, 1920.

1,344,492, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 29, 1919. Serial No. 320,598.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, WILLIAM KERR EDGAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Douglas and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Automatic Feed Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to feeding devices employed in connection with machines especially constructed for the purpose of cutting, stamping, punching or pressing rigid material in strap form into definite lengths; but more particularly to machines capable of operating on steel, iron or other'metal, capable of withstanding such treatment.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a feeding device of this character having means for automatically grasping and moving the metal strip under operation, forward a predetermined distance under the operating tool of the machine, to insure predetermined uniform lengths, and sizes, being formed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this character including'a moving clamping element, which will tightly grasp the article or strap under treatment in such a way that the clamping element will not slip or move with relation to the metallic slip.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:-

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevational view of a metal working machine, with a feeding device constructed in accordance with the present invention, attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the controlling rod,

F ig; 3is a top plan view of the feeding device,

Fig. i is alongitudinal sectional View through the carriage, showing the'clamping jaw and operating lever, in elevation,

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the

reference characters 5 and 6 designate supporting blocks formed of any suitable metal or material, the same being relativel long and provided with cut-out portions 7 formed at the upper inner edges thereof, said outout portions extending the entire length of the members 5 and 6, and are closed by the relatively flat plates 8 secured to the supporting blocks 5 and 6 through the medium of bolts 9, extending through apertures 10 formed throughout the'length of the plates 8, thereby providing a guideway.

Positioned within the cut-out portions of the supporting blocks 5 and 6, is the sliding carriage 11, which as shown, includes a lower plate 12, having its side edges positioned in the cut-out portions under the plates 8, whereby the carriage 11 is permitted to move longitudinally of the supportlng blocks, but is prevented from displacement therefrom, due to the close engagement between the carriage 11 and plates 8.

The lower plate 12, forming a part of the carriage, is recessed adjacent one end thereof, as at 13, and receives the lower portion of the clamping frame 15, the same being provided with a central opening 16, in which is positioned the metallic jaw 17, the same being provided with a head 18 embedded within the lower plate 12 of the carriage 11, thereby preventing movement thereof with relation to the frame 15;

As shown, the clamping frame 15 is recessed as at 19 to form a guide way for the metal strip, which is being operated on by the machine, the recess being partially closed by the upper memberor plate 20, forming the upper portion of the clamping frame. This plate 20, is apertured as at 21, to provide a clearance for the vertically movable elongated clamping jaw 22, the lower extremity of which is rounded as at 28 to per mit of-a free, unobstructed movement of the strip under operation, between the aws.

Disposed above the lower plate 12, of the carriage, is the upper plate 24: which is formed of metal or other suitable material, and which as shown is provided with a threaded opening 25 adapted to accommodate the threaded extension 26 of the tubular housin 27 which extends u wardl for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described. c

The threaded extension 26 is hollowed out as at 30, thereby providing a housing for the coiled spring 31, which embraces the upper portion of the jaw 22, directly under the circular cam supporting head 32, which head is provided with vertical ribs 33, en-v gaging within slots 34 formed in the inner wall of the tubular housing 27, for preventing rotary movement ofthe head 32, with relation to the casing 27. V

The cam lugs 35, formed integral with the upper surface of the head 32, cooperate with the cam lugs 36 formed on the under surface of the head 37, for causing a vertical movement of the elongate clamping jaw 22, in. one direction, when the upper cam lugs 36 are moved, the coiled spring 30, returna It is therefore obvious, that if the size or thickness of the material under operation. is

' changed, the adjusting nut is rotated, thereby moving the cam heads 32 and 37 within the tubular casing 27, whereby the distance between the clamping jaws 17 and 22 is regulated, to permit the same to effectively clamp the material under operation, when the cam faces arebrought together.

Stops 41 and 42, are also carried by the carriage 11, the same being positioned on the carriage within the path of travel of the arm 40, to engage the arm 40 and restrict the rotary movement thereof, to prevent the same from moving too far or dur ing the clamping operation.

The upwardly extending lugs 43 and 4A are also carried by the'plate 5, the same being supported at the respective ends of the plate 5, and are formed with openings 44: to receive the horizontally movable shaft &5, which carries the upwardly extending lugs 46 and 47, each of which being threaded to receive the screws 4L8, which screws act as stops to engage the arm 410 when the carriage 11 is moved longitudinally of the guideway. I

The forward end'of the carriage 11, is pivotally connected-to the walking beam 50,

- of the machine, through the medium of the arms 49, of the walkingbeam 50, pivotally mounted at its fulcrum, on the brace or bracket 51, of the machine, while the upper short or power end of this walking beam,

is pivotally and adjustably connected with the eccentric or crank of the stamping machine, or the rim'thereof, through the me- "dium of the pair ofarms 52, the adjustable insert boxing 53, and the projection or knuckle 54.

It will be observed that, as the walking beam 50 is actuated by the same eccentric or crank that operates the stamping guides,

the vibrations willbe absolutely synchrodisposed in a position'to slide-on the metal 4 and operate against the tension of the spring 57 operating in conjunction with the finger 56, the tension of thespring 57 being great enoughto cause the finger to biteinto the material under operation.

The larger adjustment of the-device, or the adjustmentsfwhich determine whether the material is to be two or ten, or anynum ber of inches long, is effected by lengthening or shortening the upper or power arm of the walking beam 50, by'moving the insert boxing 53, up or down with its set screw; and as the power arm ofthis beam 7 is relatively short, and the weight-arm long,

it will appear that a very considerable change in the amplitude of the carriage will be produced by only a slight change in the position of this insert'boxing'. But the more delicate and accurate adjustment, or' the adjustment which determines the exact length, no more or no less, of the strip under opera tion, is regulated by the trips or adjusting screws 48. These adjusting'screws are, of course adjusted so as to correspond to the amplitude'of the carriage or shoe in any given case, as determined by the adjustment of the walking beam, but are always placed a little closer together, and within this amplitude, and exactly the length of the clesired pieces a'part,fso that the carriage and its clamping jaws will always seize and release the strip of material under operation at points this precise distance, from each other.

. Pivotally connected to the press head, is the lever 58, the lower end thereof having pivotal connection with the lever 59, which has one corner thereof pivoted to the frame of the machine as at 60, to provide an eccentrio, the upper end 61 thereof, having pivotal connection with the rod 45, through the rod 63 at one end thereof, as at 62, whereby vertical movement of the press head, causes a horizontal movement of the rod as, within the bearings or openings 4A.

This movement of the rod 45, istimed so that when the carriage 11 reaches the limit of its movement to the right, the adjusting screw 48 engages the arm 40 causing the same to turn or move in a horizontal plane with the result that the elongated clamping jaw 22 is moved downwardly into engagement with the material under operation, which forces the same into engagement with the lower clamping jaw 17, this operation being accomplished by the cooperating cam lugs 35 and 36, carried by the respective heads 32 and 37.

It follows, that the return movement of the carriage carries the material under operation under the press, or machine, and at the end of such movement the arm 40 engages the adjusting screw 48, at the opposite end of the machine, with the result that the cam lugs 35 and 36, are disengaged. It follows that the coiled spring 31 forces the head 32 upwardly, disengaging the elongated clamping jaw 22 from the material under operation,whereupon the slide is free to move to the opposite end of the guide way, where the operation is repeated.

Having thus deseribed my invention, what is claimed is 1. In combination with the actuating de vice of a metal working machine, a guide way, through which the metal under operation moves, a carriage movable in the guide way, clamping jaws carried by the carriage, means for moving the carriage within the guide way, means indirectly connected with one of the clamping jaws and extending laterally of the carriage, lugs within the path of travel of the carriage, adapted to engage the last mentioned means for causing a relative movement of the clamping jaws, and means for preventing reverse movement of the metal under operation.

2. In combination with the actuating mechanism of a metal working machine, a guide way disposed adjacent the machine, and through which the metal under operation passes, a carriage movable in the guide way, said carriage supporting clamping jaws, an arm extending from one of said clamping jaws, means for moving the carriage, means within the path of travel of the carriage for engaging the arm for actuating one of said jaws, and means for preventing reverse movement of the metal under operation,

3. In combination with the actuating mechanism of a metal working machine, a guide way disposed adjacent the machine, a carriage adapted to move in the guide way, a clamping frame carried by the carriage,

a stationary jaw carried by the clamping frame, a movable jawcooperating with the stationary jaw, said jaws adapted to grasp the material under operation for moving the same predetermined distances, a lever, means on one end of the lever for cooperating with means on the movable jaw for moving the same into cooperative relation with the stationary jaw, means for actuating the lever, and means for preventing movement of the material under operation, in one direction.

4. In combination with the actuating mechanism of a metal working machine, a guide way disposed adjacent the machine, a carriage operating in the guide way, means for moving the carriage longitudinally of the guide way, a stationary jaw carried by the carriage, a vertical jaw cooperating with the stationary jaw, the vertically movable jaw having cam lugs provided thereon, an operating shaft having cam lugs thereon, said cam lugs adapted to cooperate to move the movable jaw, an operating arm having connection with the operating shaft, and means for moving the operating arm, means for preventing rotary movement of the movable jaw, and means for preventing movement of the material under operation, in one direction.

5. In combination with the actuating mechanism of a. metal working machine, a guide way disposed adjacent the machine, a carriage operating in the guide way, means for moving the carriage, a tubular casing supported by the carriage, a stationary jaw supported in the tubular casing, a vertically movable jaw cooperating with the stationary jaw, and operating through the casing, a head formed at the upper end of the vertically movable jaw, cam lugs on the head, an operating shaft having a head formed at one end thereof, and carrying cam lugs cooperating with the first cam lugs for moving the movable jaw vertically in one direction, means for returning the jaw to its normal position, means for operating the operating shaft at predetermined intervals, and a pilot for preventing reverse movement of the material under operation.

6. In combination with the operating mechanism of a metal working machine, a guide way, a carriage movable in the guide way, means for moving the carriage, a stationary jaw supported on the carriage, and a movable jaw supported in the carriage, an operating shaft supported on the carriage, means on the operating shaft and cooperating with the means on the movable jaw, for moving the movable jaw in one direction, means for adjusting the vertically movable with relation to the stationary jaw, means for operating the operating shaft, and a pilot for preventing reverse movement of the material under operation.

7. In combination with the operating mechanism, of a metal working machine, a guide way, a carriage movable in the guide way, means for moving the carriage, a tubular casing, inthe carriage, a stationary jaw supported in the carriage, a movable j aw positioned'within the tubular casing, and 00- operating with the stationary jaw, an operating shaft for moving the movable jaw within the tubular casing, means for adjusting the operating shaft and movable jaw within the tubular casing, an operating arm for moving the operating shaft, and means adapted to engage the operating arm, durmg the movement of the'carriage, for movlng the same in a horlzontal plane, and

means for preventing movement of the material under operation, in one direction.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing- .as my own, I have hereto affixecl nay-signap H. BELOEN,

i T. S. GHARLTON.. 

